Repeat mechanism for calculating machines



Aug. 9, 1955 N. R. FRIEBERG REPEAT MECHANISM FOR CALCULATING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 1 1954 m T N E V W.

NELSON R. FRIEBERG 6 HIS ATTORNEYS Aug. 9, 1955 N. R. FRIEBERG REPEAT MECHANISM FOR CALCULATING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 18, 1954 BY MM G W. R m m m m R m w s m wm 3 QiaHN W O @m 8 5 o 0 mm 8 0 mm O o o T 3 4 U v 1 a K O w a 3r ow A- mm \f A O O NQE o n Aug. 9, 1955 N. R. FREE-BERG REPEAT MECHANISM FOR CALCULATING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 18, 1954 FIG.3

FIG. 4

INVENTOR i HIS ATTORNEY United States Patent l REPEAT MECHANISM FOR CALCULATING MACHINES Nelson R. Frieberg, Ithaca, N. Y., assignor to The National Cash Register Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Maryland Application May 18, 1954, Serial N0. 430,481

6 Claims. (Cl. 235-62) This invention relates to a repeat mechanism for a calculating machine and more particularly pertains to such a mechanism wherein a single control member, when moved from a neutral position in one direction, and held, causes data set up on a digit keyboard to be retained thereon through repeated data-entering machine cycles, which are initiated successively as long as the control member is held moved in that direction. When moved from neutral position in another direction, the control member will cause the data set up on the digit keyboard to be retained through repeated data-entering machine cycles but will not cause initiation of the machine cycles, which must be initiated by other means.

The invention is shown embodied in an add-subtract adding machine of the type disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,666,574, which issued January 19, 1954, on the application of Carl H. Carlson et al. and to which reference will be made from time to time.

Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a calculating machine in which repeat operations are provided for by operation of a single control member having a neutral position, in which it is ineitective; an automatic repeat position, in which it may be held by an operator to initiate successive machine operations, in which data set up on the keyboard is entered into the totalizer repeatedly; and a non-automatic repeat position, to which it may be moved and in which it may be automatically latched, whereupon the key-restoring mechanism is disabled. 7

With this and incidental objects in view, the invention includes certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, a preferred form or embodiment of which is hereinafter described with reference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification.

Of the drawings:

Fig. l is an elevation of the right side of the machine with the casing removed.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the left side of the machine with the casing removed.

Pig. 3 is a top plan view of the machine trip linkage connecting the trip mechanism on the right side of the machine with the trip latch on the left side of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a detail elevation of the machine trip latch and motor switch as seen from the right side.

Fig. 5 is a detail right side elevation of the elements of the novel repeat control mechanism with regard to the machine-tripping function.

Fig. 6 shows a cross section of the key latch mechanism for one denominational row of keys.

Fig. 7 is a detail elevation of the elements of the novel repeat control mechanism, with regard to suppressing the action of the key restore lever.

General description The machine is powered by an electric motor (Fig. 2), which is started when trip lever 21 (Fig. I), mounted Zflidfld'l Patented Aug. 9, l iiii on screw stud 22 mounted on the right side plate of the machine, is rocked clockwise slightly, through the following linkage. The downwardly-extending leg 23 of lever 21 has a bent-over ear 24 (see also Fig. 3) pivoted to link 25, which is pivoted to a lever 26, in turn pivoted at 27 to the base of the machine. The left end 28 of the lever 26 (see also Fig. 4) enters a hole in a trip latch 29 pivoted at 350 to a vertical frame piece, not shown. The latch 29 holds a threearmed lever 31., secured on a shaft 32, in counter-clockwise position against the tension of a spring 33 secured to the downwardly-extending arm 35 of the lever 31, by reason of an car 36 on the rearwardlyextending arm of the lever 31 resting on a shoulder of the latch piece 29. If the trip lever 21 (Fig. 1) is rocked clockwise against the action of a spring 37, which holds it in home position, the latch piece 29 is rocked clockwise, as seen in Fig. 4, thus permitting the lever 31 and the shaft 32 to rock clockwise as seen in Fig. 4, or counterclockwise as seen in Fig. 2. A lever 38, loosely mounted on the shaft 32, is rocked clockwise by a stud 39 on a lever 40 secured on the shaft 32, and an ear 41 on the upper end of the lever 38 closes a normally-open switch 42 in the motor supply circuit. At the same time, a retaining pawl 43, pivoted to the frame and having a notch 44 on its under side, retains the lever 38 in its rocked position to hold the motor switch closed during the ensuing machine operation. At the'end of a cycle of operation, a lever 45, secured to the main drive shaft 46, rocks the pawl 43 counter-clockwise, permitting the switch 42 to open.

A single-cycle clutch mechanism is provided for coupling the motor and the main operating means for singlecycle operation unless the trip lever 21 is held in machinetripping position through the end of a given cycle. Referring to Fig. 2, the motor 20, through reduction gearing, drives a motor shaft 47, which has secured thereto a notched gear, not shown. Rotatably mounted on the outer end of the shaft 47 is a crank plate 48, having pivoted thereto at 49 a pawl 5t having a nose 51 urged to engage with the notched gear under the influence of a spring 52. When the machine is at rest, the lever 31 is in the position shown in Fig. 2, where a stud 53 on an arm of the lever 31 bears against the rear edge of the nose 51 of the pawl 50, keeping the nose from engaging the notched wheel. Upon the machines being tripped, the lever 31 rocks counter-clockwise, as seen in Fig. 2, as has been explained, allowing engagement of the pawl with the notched wheel, so that the motor drives the crank plate 48 clockwise. As the crank plate 48 nears the completion of one rotation, a cam surface 54 thereon strikes a stud 55 on the lever 31, rocking it clockwise. By this movement, a stud 56 (Fig. 4) on the lever 31 strikes the latch 29, moving it to latching position. At the same time as the rear edge of the nose 51 of the pawl 50 strikes the stud 53, the pawl is rocked to disengage the crank plate 48 from the motor. As the lever 31 is rocked by the cam surface 54 (Fig. 2), it throws lever 31 slightly past its normal latched position, to which it immediately returns, to be either latched there or released again if the trip lever 21 (Fig. 1) has been held in its tripping position, either by the operators holding down on a motor bar, as described in the Carlson et al. patent mentioned, or by use of the repeat key in its automatic repeat position.

Each time the crank plate 48 (Fig. 2) makes one rotation, it rocks the drive shaft 46 first clockwise and then counter-clockwise, through a link SS and a lever 59,

.rotatably mounted on the shaft 46. The lever 59 has a yielding coupling to the shaft 46 through a lever 60, pivoted to an arm of the lever 59. The free end of the lever 60 has a roller 61, which is held by a spring 63 in a notch in a plate 62 secured on the shaft 46. Any over load placed on the shaft 46 during movement of the lever 59 causes an uncoupling therebetween, as the roller 61 will ride out of the notch as the spring 63 yields.

The right end of the shaft 46, as seen in Fig. 1, has secured thereto a plate 65, connected by a link 66 to a main drive plate 67, pinned to a cross shaft 68a. During a machine cycle, the plates 65 and 67 rock counter-clockwise and then clockwise, as seen in Fig. 1, which amounts to one machine cycle.

The digit keys are arranged in denominational rows, one typical row, 68, being shown in Fig. l. The keys are slidably mounted in alined slots in a top plate 69 and a bottom plate 71 of the key bank unit. Referring to Fig. 6, which is a cross section through a typical digit key row, each key has a stem having a leg 72, around which is wound a key-restoring spring 73, which urges the key up to its upper limit, as determined by a bar 74, riding in a slot 75, which limits the up-and-down movement of the key. The bar 74 is common to the keys of a row and is supported by the frame plates of the key bank unit. Two rods, 76 and 77, are supported in the key bank unit frame, rod 76 running along the left sides of the key stems of the row, and rod 77 running along the right sides. A key-latching shutter 73, running the length of the row, is swung on the rod 76 and is urged counter-clockwise in a latching direction against the key stems by a spring coiled on the rod 76. As a key is depressed against the restoring infiuence of the spring 73, the shutter 715 is pushed aside by a formation 79 and then moves back into shoulder 80 to hold the key in depressed condition. If a mistake has been made, an other key in the row may be depressed, which act releases the first-depressed key as the shutter 78 is moved aside. If all the depressed keys are to be released, the key-restoring bail is operated. This bail 81 (Fig. 1) runs across the keyboard unit and is pivoted thereto for rocking motion by a stud S2 and a similar stud on the left side. The bail 81 has a rearwardly-extending finger for each key row, positioned like the finger 86 (Fig. 6) for the typical key row. Rocking the bail clockwise, as seen in Fig. 1, will move aside the key latch shutters of all the key rows, releasing any depressed key. As explained in the United States Patent No. 2,062,731, to Charles Schroder, a key lock bail 87 is provided for each key row and is operated by a key lock slide 88 at the commencement of a machine operation to latch the keys in either unoperated or operated position during the machine operation. The right end of the slide 38 is seen in Fig. 1. No further description of the key lock slide and associated mechanism will be made here, as it is not necessary to an understanding of the invention. For further disclosure, reference may be made to the mentioned Schroder patent.

Means, operating each machine cycle when the repeat control is in neutral position, is provided for actuating the key-restoring means at the conclusion of a machine cycle. This machine-actuated ke restoring means consists of a lever 90 and associated mechanism. The lever 91) is pivoted at 91 to the right side frame plate of the keyboard unit and is held rocked in a counter-clockwise position, when the machine is at rest, by reason of a rearwardlyand downwardly-extending leg 92 thereof resting on a stud 93 on the plate 67, against the urge of a spring 94 tending to rock it clockwise. As a cycle of machine operation commences, the plate 67 rocks counter-clockwise. The stud 93 moves downward, allowing the lever 99 to rock clockwise, and a by-pass pawl 95 passes a stud 96 on a rearward extension of the bail 81. On the last half of the machine cycle, the plate 67 rocks clockwise to home position, and, as the stud 93 makes contact with the leg 92, the lever 90 is returned to home position. In this direction of movement, the by-pass pawl will not give, and, when it strikes the stud 96, the bail 81 is rocked clockwise, restoring the keys, as has been described.

The novel repeat mechanism All of the before-described mechanism is old and is described in the patents to which reference has been made, except for the details of Fig. 4, which may be found in United States Patent No. 2,675,960, which issued April 20, 1954, on the application of Nelson R. Frieberg and Paul A. Dale.

Referring to Figs. 1, 5, and 7, secured to the right side plate 161 of the keyboard unit is a stud 1(11 having rotatably mounted thereon a hub 1112 having secured to its left end a lever 103 having a stud 103a, which rides in a vertical slot which is cut in the under part of a thumb piece 104, slidable back and forth in an opening in the machine case 105. On the right end of the hub 1112 is a combined camming and detent plate 166 adapted to c0- operate with a two-armed lever 10'], pivoted on the stud 91, and with the key restore lever 91!. The plate 106 is shown in neutral position and is detained there by a stud 108 on the lever 107, held in a detent notch on the bottom edge of the plate 1% by a spring 109. If the thumb piece is pushed to the rearthat is, up and to the right as seen in Fig. 5-the plate 166 is rocked clockwise, and a cam surface 116) (Fig. 5) bears down on the stud 108, rocking the lever 107 counter-clockwise, causing its foot 111 to bear down on a stud 112 on a bell crank lever 113, pivoted at 114 (see also Fig. l) to the machine trip lever 21. The bell crank lever 113 and the trip lever 21 are resiliently coupled together by a spring 116, which holds an car 117 of the bell crank 113 in contact with an upwardly-extending arm 118 of the lever 21. Thus, by the clockwise rocking of the bell crank 113, through moving the thumb piece or key 104 to automatic repeat position, the machine will commence cycling and will continue cycling until the thumb piece 104 is returned to neutral position or to the non-automatic repeat position. In the non-automatic position of the thumb piece 1tl4that is, when it is moved forwardly and downwardly on the slope of the casingno downward camming action on the lever 1117 takes place, and the stud 108 settles in a detent notch 119 to retain the repeat key 104 in non-automatic repeat position until forcefully returned to neutral position or beyond.

To suppress the action of the key restore lever in the automatic repeat position of the key 194, the plate 106 being in the position shown in Fig. 7, a stud 120 thereon moves directly over a stop surface 121 on the lever 90, stopping its moving sufiiciently to let the by-pass pawl get above the stud 96 (Fig. 1). In the dotted-line, non-automatic repeat, position of the plate 106, as shown in Fig. 7, the cam edge 11% is over a stud 122 of the lever 90, stopping the said lever from restoring movement sufficiently to let the pawl get above the stud 96 (Fig. l).

The thumb piece, or key, 194 is returned from automatic repeat position by the spring 1119.

The dual functioning of the cam and detent plate 106 in the automatic repeat position and in the non-automatic repeat position forms a simple but effective mechanism for the purposes stated.

In operation, the amount to be entered repeatedly is set up on the digit keys, and the thumb piece is pushed up for automatic operation of the machine or down for repeated entries by use of a motor bar, which trips the lever 21 (Fig. l) for single-cycle operation, as noted in the Carlson patent to which reference was made.

While the mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill the object primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form or embodiment herein disclosed, for it is susceptible of embodiment in various other forms.

What is claimed is:

1. In a calculating machine having a cyclically-operable main operating means; digit keys selectively operable from a restored position to a position in which they determine amounts to be entered into the machine during a cycle of operation; latch means holding the operated keys in operated position; means urging the keys to normal position; and a key-restoring means operable at the end of a machine cycle to release latched keys so that they will restore to normal position, the combination therewith of a machine-actuated means normally operating each cycle to operate the key-restoring means; means operable to trip the machine for causing a cycle of machine operation, said trip means, when held in operated position through the end of a machine cycle, initiating a repeat cycle; and control means having a neutral position, an automatic repeat position, and a non-automatic repeat position, said means, when moved from neutral position to its automatic repeat position, causing suppression of the machine-actuated means for operating the key-restoring means so that the operated keys will not restore at the end of a machine cycle, causing operation of the trip means as long as it stays in automatic repeat position to cause successive cycles of machine operation without key restoration between cycles, said control means when moved to its non-automatic position only suppressing the machine-actuated means for operating the key-restoring means.

2. The machine of claim 1 in which spring means is provided to automatically return the control means to neutral position from its automatic repeat position unless held there.

3. The machine of claim 1 in which detent means is provided to hold the control member in non-automatic position unless forced to neutral position or to automatic repeat position.

4. In a calculating machine power-driven in cycles of operation, the combination of digit keys movable from a normal position to an efiective position, where they control entry of amount data during a machine operation; key-restoring means normally operable each cycle to restore moved keys to normal position; tripping means which when moved causes a cycle of operation to be initiated and when moved and held through the end of any cycle causing a succeeding cycle of operation to be initiated; and a repeat control means which is movable from a neutral position, in which it is ineffective, either to an automatic repeat position, in which it disables the key-restoring means and holds the tripping means in moved position, or to a non-automatic repeat position, in which it only disables the key-restoring means.

5. The machine of claim 4 in which spring means is provided to automatically return the control means to neutral position from its automatic repeat position unless held there.

6. The machine of claim 4 in which detent means is provided to hold the control member in non-automatic position unless forced to neutral position or to automatic repeat position.

No references cited. 

